Esports is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, with a global fanbase of over 500 million. Hosting a world championship gives cities the chance to tap into that momentum, to develop local infrastructure, boost tourism, and create economic impact. But the benefits go even deeper.

When a city becomes home to WEC, it becomes a platform for youth engagement, digital education, and tech-driven opportunity. Local talent gets a stage. Local businesses get visibility. And most importantly, local communities start seeing esports not just as games, but as a career path, a creative outlet, and a driver of innovation.

What It Means to Be a World Esports Capital

Being a World Esports Capital means becoming a reference point in the international conversation. It’s about having the infrastructure, vision, and cultural commitment to esports, both on and off the stage.

These cities are not only hosting international tournaments, they are investing in grassroots initiatives, education programs, gaming hubs, and community growth. They become homes for new partnerships between public institutions, private investors, and global publishers. And through IESF’s ecosystem, they are connected to over 150 nations, building relationships that last long after the trophies are lifted.

The Legacy in Action

Cities like TaeBaek, where the WEC began in 2009, proved that even smaller, lesser-known places can shape the World Esports history. Others like Seoul, Bali, and Riyadh have raised the bar showing how to merge tradition, innovation, and scale. Iași and Bucharest in Romania showed how a nation’s esports culture can be elevated by hosting, building pride, passion, and long-term structure. Eilat became a symbol of resilience, successfully hosting WEC during the pandemic recovery in 2021.

Every host city has brought something different. But what unites them all is the impact they leave behind.

In the end, the World Esports Championship is not just a tournament. It’s a legacy. And for cities ready to embrace the future of competitive gaming, it’s the key to becoming a true World Esports Capital.

The post World Esports Capitals through the years appeared first on IESF.

This is the first step towards official recognition as part of the CDAG (Confederación Deportiva Autónoma de Guatemala) and COG (Guatemalan Olympic Committee) sports family.

The Provisional Executive Committee is made up of:
President: Pablo Melgar
General Secretary: Guillermo Monzón 
Treasurer: Manuel Sis
Vocal I: Moisés López
Vocal II: Marian von-Rayntz 

In addition, we have a group of visionary founders who will work on the revision of the statutes for the formation of the different organs: Nery Anleu, Osmar López, Dreysi Contreras, Jonathan Luna, Carlos García, Karla Aguirre, Marlin Baeza, Baltazar Ovando, Michael Quezada, Danilo Ponciano, Benjamín Alonso, Edin Barrientos, César Moscoso, Pedro Pablo Gutiérrez, and Pablo Morales.

The history of esports in Guatemala is underway! Let’s continue advancing together to build a future full of opportunities and demonstrate that electronic sports are an exciting discipline with great potential.

The post A historical step for electronic sports in Guatemala appeared first on IESF.

The MLBB Open tournament delivered one of the most exciting playoffs in WEC history. For the third consecutive year, a new champion was crowned, as Malaysia triumphed in dominant fashion. In a great run, Malaysia stunned the MLBB giants by defeating Indonesia, the 2022 champion, in the semifinals and then the Philippines, the 2023 champion, in a thrilling final.

• Gold: Malaysia
• Silver: Philippines
• Bronze: Indonesia

The tournament reached a peak viewership of 613k, making it one of the most-watched MLBB Open tournaments in WEC history.

A Historic Year for Women in Esports

The debut of the MLBB Women’s Tournament marked a new milestone for the World Esports Championship. Teams from across the world displayed extraordinary talent and competitiveness, with Indonesia, the pre-tournament favorite, securing the first-ever MLBB Women’s World Esports Championship title.

• Gold: Indonesia
• Silver: Cambodia
• Bronze: Egypt

The Women’s tournament reached a peak viewership of 258k, presenting the growing interest in women’s Esports. This debut exceeded all expectations and set the stage for more successful tournaments in the future, proving the Women’s category deserves its rightful place on the biggest stage.

Record-Breaking Prize Pool

This year’s tournaments also had the largest prize pool in MLBB history throughout WEC, totaling $280,000 across both categories:

• $160,000 for the MLBB Open Tournament
• $120,000 for the MLBB Women’s Tournament

The success of this year’s MLBB tournaments is a result of the strong partnership between IESF and MOONTON Games. Together, we have elevated MLBB into one of the most iconic and recognizable elements of the World Esports Championship.

“We are proud to have delivered such an impactful and pleasant MLBB experience for our fans and athletes. The incredible performances and viewership this year reaffirm our goal to growing MLBB’s presence on the international Esports stage,” said Igor Nedeski, IESF’s Esports Manager.

Ray Ng, Head of Ecosystem at MOONTON Games, said: “Congratulations to the whole IESF team for another great event that achieves a new milestone together with MLBB. We share the same beliefs of excellence and inclusion and are excited to build on this momentum to create even more unforgettable moments for MLBB fans around the world.”

The post MLBB’s Success at WEC24 appeared first on IESF.

Becoming the Overall World Esports Champion means more than dominating in one game title. Each win and each strategy brilliance plays a part as points stack up across games like Dota 2, PUBG Mobile, and more. The nation with the highest score from medals won across all games gets to raise the ultimate trophy and claim the year’s Esports crown. Imagine the pride of knowing you, your teammates, and your nation have conquered the Esports world!

For context, let’s look at past champions. Countries like South Korea, now known for their history of Esports excellence, have raised the trophy eight times. Meanwhile, nations like Sweden, Serbia, India, and others have also tasted victory, adding their names to the exclusive club of champions. Each winner carries with them the undeniable pride of representing their country on the world stage, knowing they and their nation were truly the best in the world that year.

So, who will we be watching for those big moves? Who will step up this year? Who has the skills, resilience, and unity to claim the title of the world’s top Esports nation?

Where can you follow all of this action? 

• CS2: YouTube, Twitch, X
• Dota 2: YouTube, Twitch, X
• MLBB: YouTube, Facebook, TikTok
• PUBG Mobile: YouTube, Facebook, TikTok

And don’t miss a moment on our social channels, where we’ll be sharing the journey of each team as they fight for the title. Buckle up, because the race for the Esports crown has begun!

The post Who will be the World Esports Champion? appeared first on IESF.

What to expect from this year’s MLBB tournaments at WEC24?

WEC24 will also see some of the most extensive international participation in MLBB esports to date, with 88 countries initially registering to compete for the main event, and 49 countries entering the inaugural women’s event. After a challenging series of national and regional qualifiers spanning months, only the top 16 teams have progressed to represent their countries in the main event, while 12 teams will compete in the women’s event. Each team will vie for national recognition and a share of the prize pool, reflecting the increasing competitiveness and diversity of the MLBB esports ecosystem.

MLBB has consistently been one of the most popular titles at WEC, with peak concurrent viewers surging past 700,000 at previous editions. “With a higher prize pool and the introduction of the new MLBB women’s event alongside our main tournament, we are proud to support continued growth and representation for MLBB esports at WEC 2024” said Ray Ng, Head of Esports Ecosystem at MOONTON Games. “This year’s championship not only showcases the commitment of MOONTON and IESF in elevating esports on the global stage, it also reflects the growing passion of the MLBB community across diverse regions.”

Old Rivalries and Newcomers, who will come out on top?

Among the teams representing their countries at WEC 2024 are several powerhouse regions, including defending champions the Philippines, as well as stalwarts Indonesia and Malaysia. Multiple players from these teams have also recently been crowned champions of their respective Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional Leagues (MPL), adding to the intensity of the competition and making this a final proving ground before they head to Malaysia for the ultimate M6 World Championship title.

The Philippines’ representative team, RRQ Kaito, will look to defend the nation’s title and establish themselves as a true powerhouse team – after defying the odds and defeating MPL professional teams Omega Esports and Falcons AP. Bren at the national qualifiers to represent the country. Malaysia will bring a formidable roster with four players from the Selangor Red Giants – the championship team which took home the MLBB Mid Season Cup 2024. From Indonesia, veteran players from powerhouse team Fnatic Onic will be embarking on a path to redemption following the recent MPL ID playoffs. 

From host nation Saudi Arabia, newly crowned MPL MENA winner Twisted Minds will present a lineup of skilled players ready to shine on the global stage. Guam’s debut team, I Know Right, looks to surprise with their underdog spirit, while Egypt will feature players from major teams Falcons and R8 Esports. Lastly, Turkey’s Fire Flux Esports, rising in the MLBB scene, brings experience and talent to the competition. At the women’s tournament, Indonesia’s Team Vitality, runner-up of the MLBB Women’s Invitational 2024, will return to Riyadh, determined to maintain their position among the best.

WEC 2024 Tournament Format Revealed

The MLBB main event will kick off with a Group Stage from November 12 to 13, featuring 16 teams randomly divided into four groups that will face each other in best-of-three matches within the same group. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Playoffs, which will take place on November 14 and 15, using a single-elimination format with best-of-three matches.

In the MLBB women’s event, the Group Stage will occur from November 16 to 17, with 12 teams split into two groups competing in a round-robin format, with best-of-one matches. The top two teams from each group will advance to the upper bracket, while the third-place team will move to the lower bracket. The Playoffs for the women’s event will be held from November 18 to 19, utilizing a double-elimination format with best-of-three matches.

As excitement builds for this year’s championship, the stage is set for an unforgettable showcase of talent and competition. Fans worldwide can look forward to witnessing the action live on the official IESF YouTube channel, as well as MLBB Esports Official YouTube channel.

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